PPC reporting is more than just pulling numbers from Google Ads and dropping them into a spreadsheet. Great reports tell a story, highlight what matters, and give stakeholders the confidence that their advertising budget is being well-spent.
Yet many performance marketers struggle with reporting. They either include too much data (overwhelming executives) or too little (leaving questions unanswered). They focus on vanity metrics instead of business outcomes. Or they simply don't have time to create reports that are both comprehensive and consumable.
This guide will help you create PPC reports that demonstrate value, surface insights, and drive better decision-making. Whether you're reporting to clients, executives, or using reports to guide your own optimizations, these best practices will elevate your reporting game.
Why PPC Reporting Matters
Good PPC reporting serves multiple purposes beyond just "showing the numbers." Here's why investing in better reports pays dividends:
Builds Trust & Transparency
When stakeholders can see exactly where budget is going and what results it's generating, they're more likely to approve budget increases and strategic changes.
Surfaces Optimization Opportunities
Regular reporting forces you to look at your data systematically. You'll catch underperforming campaigns, budget pacing issues, and emerging trends earlier.
Demonstrates Value
PPC is often scrutinized as a cost center. Well-structured reports that tie spend to revenue and business outcomes protect your budget and your job.
Creates a Historical Record
Looking back at reports from 6 or 12 months ago helps you understand seasonality, evaluate long-term trends, and make better forecasts.
The best performance marketers view reporting not as a chore, but as a strategic advantage. Your reports are how you communicate value and secure resources for future campaigns.
PPC Metrics That Actually Matter
The biggest mistake in PPC reporting is including too many metrics without clear purpose. Here's how to choose the right metrics for your reports:
Core Performance Metrics
These are the foundational metrics that should appear in almost every PPC report:
| Metric | What It Measures | When to Prioritize |
|---|---|---|
| Impressions | How many times ads were shown | Brand awareness campaigns |
| Clicks | Number of ad interactions | Traffic-focused campaigns |
| CTR (Click-Through Rate) | Clicks ÷ Impressions | Ad relevance & creative quality |
| CPC (Cost Per Click) | Spend ÷ Clicks | Budget efficiency |
| Conversions | Desired actions completed | All conversion-focused campaigns |
| CPA/CPL | Cost per conversion or lead | Lead gen & e-commerce |
| ROAS | Revenue ÷ Ad Spend | E-commerce & revenue campaigns |
Match Metrics to Objectives
The key to effective PPC reporting is matching your metrics to campaign objectives. Here's a simple framework:
- Awareness campaigns: Impressions, reach, impression share, CPM
- Consideration campaigns: Clicks, CTR, engagement rate, site visits
- Conversion campaigns: Conversions, CPA, conversion rate, ROAS
- Retention campaigns: Customer lifetime value, repeat purchase rate, churn reduction
Pro tip: Create metric "tiers" in your reports. Lead with 2-3 primary KPIs that tie directly to business objectives, then include supporting metrics for context. This prevents data overload while keeping detail available.
How to Structure a PPC Report
A well-structured PPC report follows a logical flow from high-level overview to detailed analysis. Here's a proven structure:
1. Executive Summary
Start with a one-paragraph or bullet-point summary of the most important takeaways. Executives often only read this section, so make it count:
- Total spend and comparison to budget
- Key conversions/revenue achieved
- Performance vs. goals (on track, ahead, behind)
- One major win and one area of focus
2. Performance Overview
Show aggregate performance across all campaigns. Include:
- Total metrics for the reporting period
- Comparison to previous period (week-over-week, month-over-month)
- Progress toward goals or targets
- Trend visualization (line charts work well here)
3. Campaign-Level Breakdown
Dive into individual campaign performance. This is where you answer "what's working and what's not":
- Top performing campaigns (by your primary KPI)
- Underperforming campaigns with diagnosis
- Budget allocation and pacing by campaign
- Notable tests or experiments in progress
4. Platform Breakdown (for Multi-Channel)
If you're running ads across Google, Meta, LinkedIn, or other platforms, include a section comparing performance:
- Spend distribution by platform
- CPA/ROAS comparison across platforms
- Recommendations for budget reallocation
Tools like marketingOS's Marketing Dashboard make cross-platform comparison much easier by pulling all your data into a single view.
5. Insights & Recommendations
This is where you add real value. Don't just describe what happened—explain why and what to do about it:
- Key learnings from the period
- Hypothesis for performance changes
- Specific recommendations with expected impact
- Planned tests or changes for next period
6. Budget & Pacing
Include a clear view of budget utilization. This is often the first thing finance teams look for:
- Actual spend vs. planned budget
- Pacing (on track, underspending, overspending)
- Forecast for end of period
- Any budget adjustment recommendations
Using a tool like marketingOS's Ad Spend Tracker can automate much of this budget tracking across platforms.
Tailoring Reports for Different Audiences
The same data needs to be presented differently depending on who's reading it. Here's how to adapt your PPC reporting for common audiences:
For Executives & C-Suite
- Do: Lead with revenue impact and business outcomes
- Do: Use clear visualizations and limit to 3-5 key metrics
- Do: Compare to goals and industry benchmarks
- Don't: Include tactical details like keyword-level data
- Don't: Use PPC jargon without explanation
For Marketing Leadership
- Do: Include channel comparisons and budget allocation
- Do: Show how PPC integrates with other marketing efforts
- Do: Highlight competitive insights and market trends
- Don't: Bury the strategic implications in tactical detail
For Campaign Managers & Specialists
- Do: Include granular campaign, ad group, and keyword data
- Do: Show performance by device, audience, and location
- Do: Include test results and optimization opportunities
- Do: Provide exportable data for further analysis
Best practice: Create report templates for each audience. This saves time and ensures you're always providing the right level of detail for each stakeholder.
Common PPC Reporting Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced marketers make these PPC reporting mistakes. Here's what to watch out for:
1. Reporting Without Context
Saying "we got 1,000 conversions this month" means nothing without comparison. Is that up or down? Good or bad? Always compare to previous periods, goals, and benchmarks.
2. Data Dumping
More data isn't better data. A 50-page report with every possible metric is less useful than a 5-page report with the right metrics and clear insights.
3. Focusing on Vanity Metrics
Impressions are nice, but do they tie to business outcomes? Lead with metrics that matter to stakeholders (revenue, leads, ROI) not just what makes campaigns look good.
4. Missing the "So What?"
Reports should answer "so what?" for every data point. If CPA increased 20%, explain why and what you're doing about it. Data without insight is just noise.
5. Inconsistent Reporting Cadence
Irregular reporting makes it impossible to track trends. Set a consistent schedule and stick to it, whether that's weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
6. Siloed Platform Reporting
Reporting on Google Ads separately from Meta separately from LinkedIn gives an incomplete picture. Cross-channel reporting reveals true marketing performance.
Tools for PPC Reporting Automation
Manual PPC reporting is time-consuming and error-prone. Here are tools that can help automate your workflow:
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Google Looker Studio | Free Google Ads dashboards | Free |
| marketingOS | Cross-channel unified reporting | TBA (waitlist) |
| Supermetrics | Data connectors for sheets/dashboards | $39/mo |
| Databox | Real-time performance dashboards | Free - $59/mo |
| AgencyAnalytics | White-label agency reporting | $79/mo |
When choosing a reporting tool, consider:
- Platform integrations: Does it connect to all your ad platforms?
- Customization: Can you create reports tailored to your needs?
- Automation: Can reports be scheduled and emailed automatically?
- White-labeling: If you're an agency, can you brand reports?
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be included in a PPC report?
A comprehensive PPC report should include key performance metrics (impressions, clicks, CTR, conversions, cost), budget tracking and pacing, campaign-level performance breakdowns, trend analysis comparing to previous periods, insights and recommendations, and next steps. Tailor the depth based on your audience—executives need summaries while campaign managers need granular data.
How often should you create PPC reports?
Report frequency depends on your budget and campaign velocity. For high-spend accounts ($50K+/month), weekly reports help catch issues early. For mid-tier accounts, bi-weekly or monthly reports are typically sufficient. Always create reports around key business milestones, budget reviews, and major campaign launches or tests.
What are the most important PPC metrics to track?
The most critical PPC metrics depend on your goals. For awareness campaigns, focus on impressions and reach. For consideration campaigns, track clicks and CTR. For conversion campaigns, prioritize conversions, CPA/CPL, and ROAS. Budget-focused metrics like spend pacing, cost per acquisition trends, and budget utilization are important for all campaigns.
What tools can help automate PPC reporting?
Popular PPC reporting tools include Google Looker Studio (free, great for Google Ads), Supermetrics (data connectors for multiple platforms), Databox (real-time dashboards), and marketingOS (unified cross-channel reporting). Many PPC management platforms like Optmyzr and Adalysis also include built-in reporting features.
How do you present PPC data to executives?
When presenting to executives, lead with business outcomes (revenue, leads, ROI) not tactical metrics. Use clear visualizations and limit data to 3-5 key metrics. Provide context by comparing to goals, previous periods, and industry benchmarks. Always include a clear narrative explaining what happened, why it happened, and what you're doing about it.
Final Thoughts
Great PPC reporting is a skill that separates good performance marketers from great ones. It's not just about pulling data—it's about telling a story, providing context, and driving action.
Start by understanding your audience and what decisions they need to make. Choose metrics that tie to those decisions. Structure your reports for easy consumption. And most importantly, always include insights and recommendations—not just data.
Tools like marketingOS can help automate the data-gathering portion, freeing you to focus on analysis and strategy. But even the best tools require thoughtful human interpretation to turn data into decisions.